Preparation of heterodimeric PDGF-AB using a bicistronic vector system in mammalian cells

ABSTRACT

The recombinant production of PDGF-AB in mammalian cells is disclosed by means of a bicistronic vector system in which an IRES sequence is located between the first and second cistrons and in which the B chain coding gene is located in the first cistron. The disclosed expression unit allows the equimolor expression of the A and B polypeptide chains.

The invention relates to the recombinant preparation of PDGF-AB (rPDGF-AB), in mammalian cells as host cells, which is essentially free of the homodimeric contaminating products PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB.

It has been possible for many years to prepare individual proteins, whose genes were isolated by cloning, in different prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, following manipulation and gene transfer. Correct folding and processing, and, where appropriate, post-translational modification as well, which are often not carried out correctly in prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic expression systems, are necessary for achieving the complete biological activity of many proteins. For this reason, mammalian cells are frequently used as hosts. In addition to this, mammalian cells are able to secrete large quantities of proteins.

For various reasons, the simultaneous preparation of two or more protein chains is often required. For example, many natural proteins are, in their functional form, composed of several subunits (e.g. antibodies). In nature, the association of the different subunits of complex proteins takes place after protein synthesis. Other components of the cellular apparatus frequently participate in this association as catalysts or controlling elements, with folding of the original structures taking place on occasion. Disturbances of the association, e.g. by an equal synthesis of the individual components, can have negative consequences both for the proteins which are to be formed and for the host cell. In nature, this system is subject to sophisticated regulation, which is for the most part cell-specific. Since this regulation is in general not adjustable in genetically manipulated cells, the alternatives explained below were developed and used for the simultaneous preparation of several foreign proteins:

1) The genes are integrated separately into expression vectors and then cotransferred in an appropriate ratio into the cells. This presupposes that several plasmid copies are taken up at the same time in a stable manner and continue to be harboured during division. The ratio of the expression of the different genes to each other depends both on the copy number and on the site of integration in the genome of the host cell. It is possible, by elaborate screening processes, to isolate cell clones which express the individual gene products in the desired ratio.

2) In order to level out the copy number, the different genes are placed in independent transcription units on one vector. While this, to a large extent, ensures stoichiometric representation of the genes, this process is also subject to problems. Thus, even if expression units having promoters of equal strength are used, it is in no way guaranteed that the mRNAs, which encode the different proteins, have the same stability and translation efficiency. Nor does the transcriptional efficiency of the two genes necessarily need to be identical. In this case, the stoichiometry of expression is produced step-wise using recombinant DNA stratagems (positioning of the transcription units with respect to each other and modulation of the strength of the individual promoters by removing or adding individual elements).

3) Bicistronic or multicistronic vectors were developed in order to avoid the problems connected with the stability of the mRNA of different transcripts. For this purpose, the individual reading frames of the gene segments--cistrons--encoding the protein chains lie on the transcription unit (expression unit). Expression of the multicistronic gene is effected using a single promoter. While the first cistron in such vectors is normally translated very efficiently, translation of the subsequent cistrons depends on the intercistronic sequences. If normal 5' untranslated sequences (5'UTR) from monocistronic genes are used for these intercistronic sequences, expession of the subsequent cistron is usually very low (as a rule, about 0.5 to 2% of the translation of the first cistron, Kaufman et al., 1987; Boel et al., 1987). It was initially possible to increase this efficiency to about 20% by inserting leader sequences (high efficiency leaders, HEL). It was subsequently possible, with the discovery and use of particular cellular and viral sequences which render possible internal initiation of translation (IRES; Jackson et al., 1990), to achieve a translation ratio between the first and subsequent cistron of 3:1.

Translation plays the key role in the use of bicistronic or multicistronic vectors. Normally, translation is initiated in eukaryotes in accordance with the "cap"-dependent mechanism, in the course of which a preinitiation complex, consisting of proteins and RNA, is constructed at the 5' end of the mRNA processing a "cap" (methylated nucleotide). From this point, a suitable translation initiation codon is sought out, starting from which the translation is begun. It is believed that this takes place by way of a "scanning" process in which the preinitiation complex moves along the mRNA in the 3' direction. Apart from a few exceptions, the cistron lying at the 5' end is always efficiently translated in this manner (Kozak, 1989). All the subsequent cistrons are either not translated at all or only translated very inefficiently. It was possible to improve the translational efficiency of the subsequent cistrons (e.g. Falcone and Andrews, 1991 and references therein) by optimizing the distance between the genes (intercistronic regions; Kozak, 1987; Wirth et al., 1991) or by using so-called "high efficiency leader" sequences (HEL, see above). HEL's are those 5' untranslated regions of genes or of other sequences which stimulate initiation of "cap"-dependent translation. However, even in constructs of this nature, the expression values which can be achieved for the second and subsequent cistrons are always clearly lower than those of the first cistron regulate in a "cap"-dependent manner.

A mechanism for initiation translation internally, discovered in recent years, makes use of specific nucleic acid sequences. The sequences include the untranslated regions of individual picorna viruses, e.g. poliovirus and encephalomyocarditis virus, (Pelletier and Sonenberg, 1988; Jang et al., 1988; Jang et al., 1989) as well as some cellular proteins, e.g. BiP (Macejak and Sarnow, 1991). In the picorna viruses, a short segment of the 5' untranslated region, the so-called IRES internal ribosomal entry site), is responsible for the internal binding of a preinitiation complex. In addition to this, further segments from this region are necessary for efficiently initiating this translation. Thus, it is evident, for example, that not only the 400 base pairs upstream of the IRES, but also the extreme 5' part of the picorna virus untranslated region, are necessary for efficient translation (Simoes and Sarnow, 1991). On the other hand, the "capping", which is a prerequisite for the normal mechanism of initiation translation, leads to a reduction in the efficiency of internal initiation by poliovirus IRES, if it is localized at the 5' end of a corresponding mRNA (Hambirdge and Sarnow, 1991). The negative effect is abolished if the IRES is responsible for initiating the second cistron, that is if a cistron is situated between the "cap" and the IRES.

IRES elements can thus function as initiators of the efficient translation of reading frames. In doing this, they have no influence on the "cap"-dependent translation of the first cistron. Conversely, in addition, any effect on IRES-dependent initiation appears to be independent of "cap"-dependent translation initiation. The mechanisms of the two processes also clearly differ in the use of different cellular factors (Meerovitch et al., 1989; Jang and Wimmer, 1990). In the past, several investigations have been published in which bicistronic expression plasmids were used (Adam et al., 1991; Ghattas et al., 1991; Kaufman et al., 1991; Wood et al., 1991; Wirth et al., 1991). However, since "cap"-dependent translation is evidently stronger than IRES-dependent translation, it was not possible to achieve stoichiometric expression of two protein chains. Previous applications have therefore concentrated on using selective markers in the second cistron. The close coupling of the expression of the selective marker with that of the gene to be expressed, which constitutes the first cistron, is particularly advantageous when selecting for a high level of expression, in particular if prior gene amplification is required.

However, the synthesis of equimolor quantities of protein by bicistronic or multicistronic expression vectors has not previously been achieved. The equimolor expression of two different protein chains is of particular importance for the recombinant preparation of the growth factor from blood platelets, "platelet-derived growth factor" (PDGF), one of the principal mitogens in human blood serum. PDGF purified from human blood platelets consists of two different, but closely related, polypeptide chains which are linked to each other by disulphide bridges Under reducing conditions, the dimeric PDGF disassociates into its monomeric subunits, of which the larger (M_(r) 15-17,000 D) has been designated the PDGF-A chain and the smaller (M_(r) 14,00 D) the PDGF-B chain (Johnsson et al., 1984).

The PDGF-A and PDGF-B protein chains are encoded by different genes. It has been possible to elucidate the complete structure of both gene products by means of cDNA cloning (Ratner et al., 1985, Betsholtz et al., 1986). In this context, it emerged that both PDGF molecules are initially synthesized as unusually long precursor molecules and are subsequently processed intracellularly to give rise to the mature PDGF chains. Two different PDGF-A transcripts, which differ by the presence or absence of a 69-bp segment in the 3' region, can be accounted for on the basis of alternative splicing (Betsholtz et al., 1986; Wise et al., 1989). This insert gives rise to change in the coding segment, resulting in short (PDGF-A_(K), 110 amino acids) and long (PDGF-A_(L), 125 amino acids) variants of the PDGF-A chain being formed. Both variants are detectable as normal cellular proteins alongside each other, with the shorter form being the more frequently occuring species (Matoskova et al., 1989; Young et al., 1990).

The two genes are located on different chromosomes and demonstrate a high degree of homology. A large number of studies show that the two genes are subject to different cell types in different ratios to each other.

All the three possible isoforms of PDGF (AA, AB and BB) occur naturally and are stored in blood platelets in so-called α-granules. Apart from the PDGF-AB heterodimer, which forms the major quantity, up to about 30% PDGF-BB can also be isolated from aged human blood platelets (Hammacher et al., 1988). Freshly prepared blood platelets also contain a high proportion (27%) of PDGF-AA (Hart et al., 1990). It can, therefore, be assumed that in the precursor cells of the thrombocytes, i.e. the megakaryocytes, the proportion of the two homodimers together corresponds approximately to that of the AB heterodimer. Since the concentration of each PDGF species in the blood platelet should correlate directly with its individual importance in the wound-healing process, the most frequent isoform, i.e. PDGF-AB, in particular, receives special emphasis in the search for a "wound-healing hormone".

Each of the different isoforms possesses biological activity in-vitro. It was only the availability of highly purified, recombinant PDGF isoforms (Hoppe et al., 1989; Hoppe et al., 1990) which made possible comparative studies aimed are differentiating the different spectra of activity of the various PDGF species. By now, a series of investigations confirms the different potency of PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB in chemotaxis and DNA-proliferation tests (Hosang et al., 1989; Nister et al., 1988; Reilly & Broski, 1989; Siegbahn et al., 1990), as well as their differing influence on the liberation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, production of diacylglycerol and [Ca²⁺ ]_(i) mobilization (Block et al., 1989; Sachinidis et al., 1990 A, 1990 B). Two different PDGF receptor populations, of which the PDGF α-receptor binds all the PDGF isoforms and the β-receptor binds only PDGF-BB (Hart et al., 1988; Heldin et al., 1988) provide a plausible explanation for how differences in the effect of the PDGF isoforms can evolve by way of their differential receptor-activating ability. The measureable, and different, in-vitro effects of the PDGF isoforms, together with the demonstration of two different receptor populations, permit the conclusion that the in-vivo spectra of activity of PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB are different. For this reason, the production of pure PDGF-AB, without the presence of PDGF-BB or PDGF-AA as a contaminating protein, is desirable. In order to obtain a homogeneous, well-characterized heterodimer, the homodimers would otherwise have to be completely eliminated by purification, which is additionally exacerbated by the very similar chromatographic properties of all the PDGF species.

A series of different routes for preparing recombinant PDGF homodimers, in particular PDGF-BB, has been known in part for a relatively long time (Kelly et al., 1985; Heldin et al., 1986; Hoppe et al., 1989; Beckman et al., 1988; Bywater et al., 1988; Stroobant & Waterfield 1984). A process for preparing highly pure PDGF-AB was described by Hoppe et al. (1990, see also PCT/EP 90/00 063). In this process, the inactive monomers, prepared separately in different E. coli cells, are converted into biologically active PDGF-AB by renaturation in-vitro.

Despite varying length of the A and B single strands, the gene products of the three PDGF isoforms that have been synthesized hitherto exhibit biological activities which to a large extent correspond with each other.

The criteria for the simultaneous expression of two (or more proteins, which were mentioned in the introduction, apply to the heterologous expression of PDGF-AB heterodimers in eukaryotic systems. The previously published strategies for preparing PDGF-AB in recombinant CHO cells (Ostman et al., 1988) and using yeast expression systems [EP 0 259 632] correspond to the case example discussed under 2) above, where both PDGF genes are located on one vector in independent transcription units. Quantification of the different PDGF dimers expressed in this manner in CHO cells gave 19% for PDGF-AA, 69% for PDGF-AB and 12% for PDGF-BB (Ostman et al., 1988).

Not only the stoichiometric representation of both genes, but also, as a first priority, their coordinated expression, are therefore to be viewed as fundamental prerequisites for the preferred synthesis of PDGF-AB heterodimers using eukaryotic expression systems. For this reason, bicistronic expression units present themselves as possible aids for expressing heterodimeric proteins and thus PDGF-AB. A system of this nature is also described for the expression of PDGF in WO 90/01550. However, as explained in more detail under 3) above, these constructs yield only very limited expression rates for the second (and subsequent) cistron. Depending on the PDGF chain located in the first cistron, homodimers of this type are predominantly formed. Attempts which have previously been described in the literature to express both PDGF genes in a eukaryotic cell using other expression systems led to proportion of homodimer byproduct in the region of 30% of more. In order, nevertheless, to obtain PDGF-AB using these cell systems, elaborate and extremely wasteful purification techniques must be employed.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to create an expression system using PDGF-AB which can be prepared without any appreciable contamination by the respective homopolymers.

In accordance with the invention, it was possible to achieve the object by using a construct which, while, in a manner known per se, making use of the IRES sequence between the first and second cistron, introduces the gene encoding PDGF-B into the first cistron. Surprisingly, it has been found, according to the invention, that, after transfection with these constructs, the host cells secrete PDGF-AB containing negligible quantities of homodimers. The yield and profitability of the subsequent protein purification processes are thereby considerably improved.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a bicistronic expression unit for the recombinant preparation of heterodimeric PDGF-AB in mammalian cells as host cells, which unit is characterized by the general formula

    p-5'UTR-C.sub.1 -IRES-C.sub.2 -3'UTR-polyA,

in which

p is a transcriptional promoter,

5'UTR is an untranslated nucleotide sequence,

C₁ is a cistron which contains a gene encoding the B chain of PDGF, a biologically active analog, or a fragment thereof,

IRES is a nucleotide sequence of viral, cellular or synthetic origin, which sequence is responsible, at the stage of translation, for internal initiation,

C₂ is a cistron which contains a gene encoding the A chain of PDGF or a biologically active analog, or a fragment thereof,

3'UTR is an untranslated nucleotide sequence,

and a polyA is a polyadenylation signal, where C₁, IRES and C₂ are connected to each other in an operative manner.

All those promoters which are effective in eukaryotic cells, i.e. which can initiate gene expression in eukaryotic cells, are suitable as promoters. In particular, all constitutive and inducible promoters of viral (for example the "long" terminal repeats, LTR's, of retroviruses, or the herpes simplex thymidine kinase promoter), cellular (for example the interferon or the ubiquitin promoter) or synthetic origin can be used. The SV40 promoter is preferred according to the invention.

The 5'UTR and the 3'UTR are any, as a rule untranslated, nucleotide sequences which can contain regulatory elements. According to the invention, the sequences from SV40 according to Artelt et al. (1988) are suitable, for example.

The first cistron, C₁, can contain the complete PDGF-B precursor sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3), its analogs and any fragment which encodes a biologically active PDGF-B chain. In particular, the v-sis gene (product of simian sarcoma virus (SSV)),, which is homologous to the PDGF-B chain, and the base pairs 283 to 609 according to SEQ ID NO: 3, which encode the mature PDGF-B chain, are suitable in this connection.

In an analogous manner, the second cistron, C₂, can contain the long or short PDGF-A precursor sequence (PDGF-A_(L) or PDGF-A_(X) --SEQ ID NO: 1) as well as any fragments which encode a biologically active PDGF-A chain. In particular, the fragment according to base pairs 353 to 682 according to SEQ ID NO: 1, which encodes the mature PDGF-A chain, is suitable.

All those sequences of viral, cellular or synthetic origin which mediate an internal binding of the ribosomes can be used as an IRES. Examples of such sequences are the IRES from poliovirus Type 1 according to SEQ ID NO: 5, which encompasses the first 628 nucleotides of the 5' untranslated region of poliovirus Type 1, and, additionally, the 5'UTR of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMV), of "Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus" (TMEV), of "foot and mouth disease virus" (FMDV), of "bovine enterovirus" (BEV), of "coxsackie B virus" (CBV), or of "human rhinovirus" (HRV), or the "human immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein" (BIP) 5'UTR, the Drosophila antennapediae 5'UTR or the Drosophila ultrabithorax 5'UTR, or genetic hybrids or fragments from the abovelisted sequences. The IRES from poliovirus Type 1 according to SEQ ID NO: 5 is preferred according to the invention.

The invention further relates to recombinant DNA vectors which contain the expression unit according to the invention. A vector which is preferred according to the invention is depicted in FIG. 4B, as it its preparation in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In addition, the invention includes host cells which are mammalian cells and which are transformed with a vector which carries the expression unit according to the invention. Preferably, the cells are CHO or BHK cells, the latter being particularly preferred. A BHK cell which was transformed according to the invention was deposited with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM) (German collection of microorganisms and cell cultures) on the 11.8.1992 under the designation 91-21-4D. The deposition number DSM ACC2045 was allocated to it.

In addition to this, the invention includes process for preparing heterodimeric rPDGF-AB, in the course of which processes mammalian cells, as host cells which harbour the expression unit according to the invention inserted in an operative manner, are cultivated in a suitable medium and the resulting rPDGF-AB is separated off from the cells and the medium. All known media for cultivating mammalian cells, including synthetic, protein-free or protein-poor production media, are suitable as the medium. DMEM (Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium), enriched with 4.5 g/l glucose and 5 to 10% FCS, was preferred according to the invention.

The rPDGF-AB is separated from the cells and the medium by conventional processes (cf., for example, Ostman et al. 1988). A highly efficient process, which was developed for PDGF-AA (Eichner et al., 1989), is preferably used according to the invention.

The invention finally relates to heterodimeric rPDGF-AB which is essentially free of homodimeric contaminating products and which can be obtained by cultivating the above-described host cells according to the invention. Surprisingly, it has emerged that the host cells which are transformed with the construct according to the invention secrete the heterodimeric PDGF-AB at a purity of 90% or more, based on the total quantity of PDGF formed. According to the invention, PDGF-AB is preferred which is made available by cultivating BHK cells which have been transformed with the construct according to the invention, for example those cells which were deposited with the German collection of microorganisms and cell cultures (DSM) on the 11.8.1992 under the designation 91-21-4D (deposition number DSM ACC2045).

The rPDGF-AB according to the invention primarily differs from the previously known recombinant PDGF-AB products on account of its high degree of purity. As remarked in the introduction, no recombinant process has hitherto been described in which 90% or more of the resulting product consists of the heterodimer. Since complete separation of the homodimers from the heterodimer is virtually impossible, the known products are inevitably mixtures of all 3 isoforms.

In addition to this, the known products, depending on their preparation, suffer from disadvantages in many respects. For example, it is known that heterologous gene expression in yeast cells, as described in EP 259 632 or 288 307, leads to protein products whose glycosylation patterns are altered as compared with the human product. Furthermore, PDGF-B expressed in yeast cells is, at least in part, incompletely processed and/or is proteolytically degraded (cf. WO 92/01716). Products of this nature thus have an altered carbohydrate pattern and are contaminated with products of proteolytic degradation. To avoid the aforesiad disadvantages, WO 92/01716 describes processes for preparing modified PDGF chains in which the consensus sequences for glycosylation, and the protease-sensitive domains, have been removed. However, modifications of this nature affect the biological activity of the product (cf. WO 92/01716).

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, heterodimeric rPDGF-AB is obtained by cultivation BHK cells which have ben transformed according to the invention, and in particular by cultivating the host cells 91-21-4D having the deposition No.: DSM ACC2045.

In addition, WO 90/08163 discloses the recombinant preparation of PDGF-AB in bacterial cells, in particular in E. coli, which preparation inevitably leads to an unglycosylated product. However, a PDGF-B chain expressed by this process in E. coli cells is truncated at the amino terminus by 12 amino acids. In addition to this, the product from bacteria must be renatured in-vitro, a procedure in which the correct intermolecular and intramolecular formation of the disulphide bridges, and the correct folding of the protein, is not guaranteed, with the consequence that the immunological properties of the product may be altered and the biological activity affected.

The heterodimeric rPDGF-AB according to the invention is preferably formulated with pharmaceutically tolerated auxiliary agents and excipients as a pharmaceutical preparation, in particular for wound healing. In this connection, it can be contained as the active compound in plasters and wound bandages and the like. While it is particularly suitable for topical application, other forms of administration, in the course of which the active compound is introduced into the wound or administered subcutaneously, are also suitable. For example, the PDGF-AB can be administered subcutaneously, in a suitable matrix having a depot function, in the peripheral region of the wound, or directly injected subcutaneously.

Further, the rPDGF-AB of the present invention is suitable for manufacturing cosmetical prepartions, for example for skin regeneration, skin smoothening, prevention of scaring or of skin ageing as well as for application of sunburn.

Suitable auxillary agents and excipients include water-based cellulose gels, biodegradable polymers and any ointment basis and cream basis, and sprays. Furthermore, additional active compounds which affect wound healing, such as, for example, collagen, fibronectin, factor XIII, fibroblast growth factor (aFGF and bFGF), transforming growth factor type α or β, epidermal growth factor, insulin or "insulin-like growth factor" (IGF I and II), or further growth factors, may be contained in the preparations according to the invention. The products according to the invention can, for example, also be present in wound bandages in aqueous solution.

The invention is explained below with the aid of examples:

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1) Schematic representation of the preparation of the basic vectors pSBC-1 and pSBC-2.

FIG. 2) Vetor M13BCL1; the region from pMCW-2 which is homologous to c-sis (PDGF-B) is indicated on the vector map. The regions of the mature PDGF-B and the NcoI/SalI (SEQ ID NO: 8+9 adapter are emphasized in black bars.

FIGS. 3A and 3B) Schematic representation of the reconstruction of the complete PDGF-B precursor sequence.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D) Schematic representation of the construction of the bicistronic vector pSBC-A/B (FIG. 4A and 4B), used form comparative purposes, and of the expression vector pSBC-PDGF-B/A according to the invention (FIG. 4C and 4D) from the basic vectors pSBC-1 and pSBC-2. The expression vectors pSBC-PDGF-A/B and pSBC-PDGF-B/A differ from each other on the basis of the orientation of the coding cDNA sequences of the PDGF-A and PDGF-B chains, i.e. on the basis of their locations on the plasmid as the first or second cistron, respectively, in the direction of reading.

FIG. 5) Northern Blot analysis of transformed BHK cells. An examination was carried out of the mRNA from the total pool of the BHK cells which had been stably transfected with the monocistronic or bicistronic PDGF expression constructs. In accordance with expectation, the monocistronic mRNA's have a size of about 1,300 nt, while the bicistronic mRNA's have the size of the coding sequences of the two PDGF chains (2,500 nucleotides). This demonstrates that the corresponding gene products are read off from a single bicistronic mRNA. The murine α-actin sample was used as a reference [Minty, A. J. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 256, 1008-1014, (1981)].

FIG. 6) Sandwich ELISA for detecting PDGF-AB using a monoclonal and a polyclonal anti-PDGF antibody: calibration curves from PDGF standards. Polystyrene plates wee coated with sheep anti-mouse IgG and subsequently incubated with a mouse hybridoma supernatant (from clone 1B3, contains monoclonal antibodies against the B chain in PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB); following incubation with various PDGF standards, the bound PDGF was detected using a polyclonal rabbit anti-PDGF-AA, followed by peroxidase-labelled anti-rabbit IgG, source of the PDGF standards:

AB: from human blood platelets, from PROMEGA Corp. No. G 5161;

BB: recombinant from yeast, from PROMEGA Corp. No. G 5191;

AA: recombinant from BHK cells, about 70% pure (Eichner et al., 1989).

Using PDGF'S from eukaryotic sources, this assay gives a specific signal with PDGF-AB (from human blood platelets), accompanied by a slight cross reaction with PDGF-BB.

FIG. 7) Detection of PDGF-AB in culture supernatants of recombinant BHK cells using PDGF-AB-ELISA: (calibration curves from standards, see FIG. 6). The depicted samples derived from BHK cells which had been transfected with the following vector constructs:

Sample: No. 1: pSBC-A/B,

No. 2: pSBC-B/A,

No. 3: pSBC-2-PDGF-A, +pSBC-2-PDGF-B,

No. 4: pSBC-2-PDGF-A,

No. 5: pSBC-2-PDGF-B,

No. 6: pSBC-2-control

FIG. 8) Analysis of purified rPDGF on SDS PAGE. The samples were separated on a 13.5% polyacrylamide gel in the presence of SDS and subsequently stained with Coomassie blue.

1, 6, 11=molecular weight markers (PHARMACIA) [14400, 20100, 30000, 43000, 67000, 94000 D]

2=pSBC-B/A

3=pSBC-2-PDGF-A+pSBC-2-PDGF-B

4=pSBC-A/B

5=pSBC-2-PDGF-A

7-10=same application sequence as in 2-5, with the addition of 10% (v/v) β-mercaptoethanol (10 min, 95° C.) in each case

The analysis of the purified secretory products on SDS-PAGE correlates with the result from the analysis of the culture supernatants (Tab. 1). It can clearly be seen, in particular from the bands of the PDGF monomers arising under reducing conditions, that transfection cell pools of the pSBC-2PDGF-A+pSBC-2-PDGF-B (cotransfer) and pSBC-A/B (PDGF-A chain in the first cistron) group predoiminantly secrete PDGF-AA homodimers.

The PDGF which can be isolated from pSBC-B/A culture supernatants bands at a molecular weight which is only to a trivial extent lower than that of the PDGF-AA which is applied as a reference. Under reducing conditions, both monomers can be detected in approximately equal amounts. The upper bands correspond to the monomer bands of the PDGF-A chain. It has already been shown for recombinant PDGF-AA from BHK cells that this material consists, in approximately equal proportions, of the complete PDGF-A chain and a C-terminally truncated species (Eichner et al., 1989).

The monomeric PDGF-A chains band at a M_(r) of about 17 KD. The PDGF-B chain, which likewise occurs in a truncated form in the material isolated from pSBC-B/A supernatants, bands below this (M_(r) 16 KD). The subspecies of the two chains were analyzed together by protein sequence analysis and unambiguously identified as PDGF-A and PDGF-B. Molecular weight differences in PDGF-B are, therefore, just as in the case of PDGF-A, possibly to be attributed to C-terminal truncations or altered glycosylation patterns. Accordingly, PDGF from pSBC-B/A supernatants consists of PDGF-A and PDGF-B chains in approximately equal amounts.

The PDGF-AA which was applied as a reference and which was likewise expressed in BHK cells is not glycosylated (Eichner et al., 1989), whereas PDGF expressed in CHO cells contains a carbohydrate proportion of about 7% (Kolvenbach et al., 1991). The PDGF-A monomers from both the PDGF-AA homodimer and the AB heterodimer agree well with each other in regard to their migratory behaviour on SDS-PAGE.

2. Expression of PDGF-AB Heterodimer using the Bicistronic Vector System

2.1 Preparation of the basic vectors pSBC-1 and pSBC-2 (FIG. 1)

For constructing the vector pSBC-1, a 627 bp MseI/BalI fragment from the plasmid pGEM3-5' polio (M) (Sarnow, 1989) was used as the template for a PCR employing the following primers: ##STR1##

The 652 bp fragment attained after the amplification was treated with pol I K and then cleaved with PstI and inserted into the vector pBEH (Artelt et al., 1988), which had been prepared in a corresponding manner.

For constructing the vector pSBC-2, plasmid pBEH was linearized with Eco RI and the following oligonucleotide sequences were hybridized and inserted: ##STR2## 2.2 Reconstitution of the complete PDGF-B precursor sequence

The plasmid pMVW-2 contains the cDNA of the human PDGF-B gene, which is incomplete in the 5'-translated region of the precursor sequence (Weich et al., 1986). In order to reconstitute the authentic PDGF-B precursor, a BclI cleavage site was introduced into the 5'-terminal region of the precursor by means of a C-T exchange in position 30 of the coding segment of clone pMVW-2. In the end, only a short segment of the coding region is lost as a consequence of this step and the locally encoded amino acid (aspartic acid) is preserved. Since, in most E. coli strains, the BclI cleavage site is resistant to enzymic cleavage as a result of methylation, the fragment containing this cleavage site must either be recloned into a dam strain or else amplified in a PCR step. The missing region of the precursor is than inserted as a synthetic SalI/BclI fragment [oligomers PPDGFB1 and PPDGFB2 (SEQ ID NO: 11+12)].

For this purpose, the 914 bp BamHi/NcoI fragment from pMVW-2 was first inserted by way of a synthetic adapter [oligomers NCCLSA1 and NCCLSA2 (SEQ ID NO: 8+9)]into the BamHI/SalI-cleaved bacteriophage M13mp19 (Pharmacia). This construct provided the necessary single-stranded DNA for the subsequent in-vitro mutageneis step, which was carried out using the oligomer-directed in-vitro mutagenesis system (version 2) from Amersham, based on the method of Eckstein et al. [Taylor J. W., Ott J. and Eckstein F. (1985) Nucl. Acids Res. 13, 8764-8785; Nakamaye K. and Eckstein F. (1986) Nucl. Acids Res. 14 9679-9698; Sayers J. R., Schmidt W. and Eckstein F. (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16, 791-802]. Using the synthetic primer [PDGBBCL (SEQ ID NO: 10)], a base exchange (C to T) is achieved, following mutagenesis, in position 144 of the sequence depicted under SEQ ID NO: 3, and thereby a BClI cleavage site introduced in the 5' region of the PDGF-B precursor. This mutagenesis derivative was designated M13BCL1 (FIG. 2).

A 1100 bp fragment from M13BCL1 was amplified in a PCR step using the primers M1317MER and M1324MER (SEQ ID NO: 6+7) and then subjected to a BclI/HindIII restriction; the resulting 770 bp fragment was isolated. The synthetic oligomers PPDGFB1 and PPDGFB2 (SEQ ID NO: 11+12) form the missing 5' region of the PDGF-B precursor up to the BclI cleavage site. After annealing, this double-strandard oligomer was then ligated, together with the 770 bp PDGF-B fragment, into the vector pGEM-2 (Promega), which had previously been prepared by being restricted with SalI/HindIII (FIG. 3). The authentic sequence of PDGF-B was verified by sequencing completely.

2.3 Construction of the bicistronic expression vectors pSBC-PDGF-A/B and pSBC-PDGF-B/A for the PDGF-A and PDGF-B chains (FIG. 4A and 4B)

As described under 1.2, the complete encoding cDNA for the PDGF-B precursor (Ratner et al., 1985) is present in the vector pGEM2-PDGF-B. The complete cDNA sequence of the short variant of the PDGF-A chain (Betsholtz et al, 1986) is contained in the expression vector pODA (Eichner et al., 1989). This vector was obtained by cloning the RsaI fragment from pPGF-1 (Hoppe et al., 1987) into the SV40 expression vector pBEH (Artelt et al., 1988).

The cDNA sequences encoding the PDGF-A and PDGF-B chains were inserted into the monocistronic vectors pSBC-1 and pSBC-2 using EcoRI/HindIII restrictions (FIG. 4A/1, 4A/2). The fusion of the two vectors to form a bicistronic expression unit was carried out using the restriction enzymes XmnI/NotI.

2.4 Preparation of transformed BHK cells

Transfection of the monocistronic and bicistronic expression vectors, which carry the sequences encoding the A and B chains of PDGF (cf. FIG. 1, 4A+B), into BHK cells was carried out using the calcium phosphate precipitation technique (Wigler et al., 1979; Graham and van der Eb, 1973). One day before the transfection, 2-3×10⁵ BHK cells/24 cm² were transferred into new culture flasks. At four hours prior to the transfection, a medium exchange was carried out using DME medium. 5 μg of the abovementioned plasmid DNA were suspended in 250 μl of 250 mM CaCl₂ together with 0.5 μg of the selection plasmids pAG60 and pSVpac (Colbere-Garapin, 1981; Vara et al., 1986), which encode a gene for neomycin resistance and puromycin resistance, respectively. The solution was slowly added, while being constantly swirled by blowing in sterile air, to 250 μl of 2×HEPES buffer (280 mM NaCl; 50 mM HEPES; 1.5 mM NaH₂ PO₄ pH 7.1) and the resulting precipitate was then added to the nutrient medium. Two days after the transfection, selection for stably transfected cells was begun by changing the medium for DME medium to double-selection medium (5 μg/ml puromycin; 500 μg/ml G418, Wirth et al., 1988), and a population of PDGF-secreting cell clones was obtained. A representative clone mixture of these cells was deposited with the DSM on the 11.8.1992 under the number DSM ACC2045.

2.5 Northern Blot analysis

Polyadenylated RNA from transformed BHK cells was isolated by the method of Purchio et al., (1979), fractionated on a 1% agarose formaldehyde gel (Lehrach et al., 1977), blotted onto a nylon membrane and hybridized with [³² P]-labelled PDGF-A and PDGF-B chain-specific probed (FIG. 5).

2.6 Preparation of conditioned cell culture supernatants

The BHK cells were transformed in analogy with 2.4. After counting the colonies, the cells were trypsinized off then taken up in fresh selection medium and adjusted to a cell density of 10⁵ cells/ml. 10 ml of this cell suspension were in each case transferred into a flask having a floor area of 65 cm² and cultivated for a further 48 h. After that, the medium was taken off and replaced with 10 ml production medium (DHEM), without serum and selective antibiotics. After 24 h the medium was taken off and replaced with serum-containing selection medium. The harvested supernatants were stored at -20° C. until analyzed. At the time of harvesting, the number of cells/flask was 0.8-1.2×10⁷.

2.7 Detection of PDGF in the culture supernatants using the mitogen test

The mitogenic activity of PDGF can be determined by measuring stimulation of the rate of synthesis of DNA is density-arrested fibroblasts. It is not possible to distinguish between the isoforms in this test.

The assay was carried out in accordance with Shipley et al., (1984) using AKR-2B mouse fibroblasts in 24-well plates. In the test, pure PDGF exhibits half-maximum stimulation at a concentration of about 5 ng/ml. This value was used in order to determine productivities. The results of the mitogen test are compared in FIG. 7 with the values from the PDGF-AB ELISA.

2.8 Detection of PDGF-AB heterodimer in the culture supernatants using a specific PDGF-AB ELISA

A `two-antibody sandwich assay` was constructed which permits specific quantification of PDGF-AB in the presence of PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB.

Sandwich assay using a monoclonal and a polyclonal anti-PDGF antibody:

96-well polystyrene plates (from Dynatech, U-Platte No. M124B) are coated in the following sequence (in each case, washing 4×with PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 between each step):

1) Sheep anti-mouse IgG (from Boehringer Mannheim, No. 1097 105), 3 μg/ml.

2) 1% BSA (from E. Merck, No. 12018) in PBS, pH 7.5, 100 μl, at R.T. for 1 h.

3) Mouse hybridoma supernatant from clone 1B3 [obtained by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice which had been immunized with recombinant PDGF-AB (from E. coli in accordance with Hoppe et al. (1990)], 2 μg/ml IgG2a/ml. The monoclonal antibody binds specifically to the B chain of PDGF dimers.

4) PDGF-containing solutions, diluted in PBS containing 0.1% BSA and 0.05% Tween 20 (PBS+), 50 μl at R.T. for 1 h.

5) Polyclonal rabbit anti-PDGF-AA IgG (from Genzyme, No. ZP-214, binds to the A chain of dimeric PDGF), 2 μg/ml in PBS+, 50 μl at R.T. for 1 h.

6) POD-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG (from Pierce, No. 31460), 0.1 μg/ml in PBS+, 50 μl at R.T. for 1 h. Detection using the substrate tetramethylbenzidine in accordance with E. S. BOS et al. (J. Immunoassay 2 (1981), 187-204).

2.8.1 Results:

The results of three different analyses of PDGF from culture supernatants of recombinant BHK cells are presented in FIG. 7.

The mitogen test provides a serviceable value for the total quantity of rPDGF present in the culture supernatants, without being able to differentiate between the different isoforms (PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB or PDGF-BB).

The specific proportion of heterodimeric PDGF-AB can be determined with a satisfactorily high degree of accuracy by the PDGF-AB-specific ELISA. The percentage proportion of PDGF homodimers may be calculated from the difference between the result of the mitogen test and that of this latter analysis (Table 1).

The result of the ELISA shows it is only in culture supernatants from transfected cell lines of the type pSBC-PDGF-B/A that a measurable biological activity in the mitogen test is correlated with high PDGF-AB values.

2.9 Purification of the secreted PDGF-AB

A process developed for purifying rPDGF-AA from cell culture supernatants (Eichner et al., 1989) was employed for purifying the secretion products from 1.5-25 liters of conditioned culture supernatants from the different transfection cell pools. The PDGF, which was highly purified or partially purified after the HPLC step, was fractionated on a Laemmli (1970) polyacrylamide gel in the presence of SDS and analyzed after subsequent staining with Coomassie blue (FIG. 8).

2.10 Amino-terminal sequencing of PDGF polypeptides

The intention was to identify the two PDGF chains unambiguously by protein sequence analysis in order to exclude the possibility that truncated processed forms of only one PDGF chain might be present in this case (see FIG. 8).

Automatic sequence analysis was carried out on a 477A model (Applied Biosystems) using the BLOTT1 cycle. The phenylthiohydantoin amino acid derivatives were analyzed on a 120A PTH analyzer, which was coupled online.

The disulphide bridges of the sample are reduced with dithiothreitol and alkylated with 4-vinylpryidine. It is then separated on a horizontal SDS elecrophoresis gel in accordance with Schagger and von Jagow, modified as described (Westermeier et al. SD 092/89, Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology). The sample is blotted onto a PVDF membrane (Problot, Applied Biosystems) using a discontinuous buffer system as described (Westermeier et al. SDRE-072, Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology) and then stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250. The two double bands at 17 and 16 KD are cut out and sequenced together.

Based on the results of the protein determination, 10 μg of sample were analyzed. It is possible to detect the N-terminal amino acids of the PDGF-A and PDGF-B chains in equivalent yield (Table 2). Contaminating sequences were not detected.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                          pSBC-2-PDGF-A +                                                    pSBC-A/B                                                                             pSBC-B/A                                                                             pSBC-2-PDGF-B                                                                           pSBC-2-PDGF-A                                                                          pSBC-2-PDGF-B                                                                          pSBC control                     __________________________________________________________________________     PDGF [ng/ml]                                                                            600   550   900      1000    250     0                                (mitogen test]                                                                 PDGF-AB [ng/ml]                                                                         240   520   600      30      10      10                               (PDGF-AB-ELISA]                                                                Proportion of                                                                            40    95    56      3       4       0                                PDGF-AB                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Amino acid sequence analysis of the PDGF-A ond PDGF-B chains                           PDGF-A           PDGF-B                                                                 Yield            Yield                                        Cycle     Code   (pmol)      Code (pmol)                                       ______________________________________                                         1         Ser    101.1*      Ser                                               2         Ile    75.7        Leu  89.7                                         3         Glu    58.8        Gly  82.0                                         4         Glu    67.2        Ser  42.9                                         5         Ala    55.7        Leu  70.2                                         6         Val    61.0        Thr  59.4                                         7         Pro    45.9        Ile  65.4                                         8         Ala    104.6*      Ala                                               9         Val    46.8        Glu  49.9                                         10        Cys    40.5        Pro  31.8                                         11        Lys    24.1        Ala  34.6                                         12        Thr    23.5        Met  16.5                                         13        Arg    30.3        Ile  25.2                                         14        Thr    24.7        Ala  29.2                                         15        Val    17.5        Glu  28.6                                         16        Ile    27.5        Cys  23.2                                         17        Tyr    16.4        Lys  11.2                                         18        Glu    20.9        Thr  13.4                                         19        Ile    24.8        Arg  20.9                                         20        Pro    17.1        Thr  16.9                                         21        Arg    29.0        Glu  16.7                                         22                           Val  19.8                                         23        Gln    8.1         Phe  10.2                                         ______________________________________                                          *Yield from both chains                                                  

Abbreviations

BHK-Hamster cell line (baby hamster kidney)

bp-base pair(s)

CHO-Hamster cell line (Chinese hamster ovary)

BSA-Bovine serum albumin

D-Dalton

DMEM-Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium

ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HEPES-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulphonic acid

HPLC-high pressure liquid chromatography

IgG-class G immunoglobulin

IRES-internal ribosomal entry site

nt-nucleotide(s)

PAGE-polyacrylamide gel electophoresis

PBS-phospate-buffered sodium chloride solution

PCR-polymerase chain reaction

PDGF-platelet-derived growth factor

POD-peroxidase

PVDF-polyvinylidine fluoride

SDS-sodium dodecyl sulphate

UTR-untranslated region

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    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 16                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 748 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                     (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                        (B) CLONE: pODA (Eichner et al., 1989)                                         (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 95..682                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /product="PDGF-A precursor sequence                     (shortspliceform)"                                                             /note= "human PDGF-A gene (short splice form, [2])                             from pODA, flanked by 5'-EcoRI and 3'-HindIII                                  restriction cleavage sites"                                                    /citation= ([2])                                                               (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- peptide                                               (B) LOCATION: 353..682                                                         (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /product="mature PDGF-A chain"                          (x) PUBLICATION INFORMATION:                                                   (A) AUTHORS: Eichner, W.                                                       Jaeger, V.                                                                     Herbst, D.                                                                     Hauser, H.                                                                     Hoppe, J.                                                                      (C) JOURNAL: Eur. J. Biochem.                                                  (D) VOLUME: 185                                                                (F) PAGES: 135-140                                                             (G) DATE: 1989                                                                 (x) PUBLICATION INFORMATION:                                                   (A) AUTHORS: Hoppe, J.                                                         Schumacher, L.                                                                 Eichner, W.                                                                    Weich, H. A.                                                                   (C) JOURNAL: FEBS Lett.                                                        (D) VOLUME: 223                                                                (F) PAGES: 243-246                                                             (G) DATE: 1987                                                                 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:                                       GAATTCCCACTGAATTTCGCCGCCACAGGAGACCGGCTGGAGCGCCCGCCCCGCGCCTCG60                 CCTCTCCTCCGAGCAGCCAGCGCCTCGGGACGCGATGAGGACCTTGGCTTGC112                        MetArgThrLeuAlaCys                                                             86-85                                                                          CTGCTGCTCCTCGGCTGCGGATACCTCGCCCATGTTCTGGCCGAGGAA160                            LeuLeuLeuLeuGlyCysGlyTyrLeuAlaHisValLeuAlaGluGlu                               80-75-70-65                                                                    GCCGAGATCCCCCGCGAGGTGATCGAGAGGCTGGCCCGCAGTCAGATC208                            AlaGluIleProArgGluValIleGluArgLeuAlaArgSerGlnIle                               60-55-50                                                                       CACAGCATCCGGGACCTCCAGCGACTCCTGGAGATAGACTCCGTAGGG256                            HisSerIleArgAspLeuGlnArgLeuLeuGluIleAspSerValGly                               45-40- 35                                                                      AGTGAGGATTCTTTGGACACCAGCCTGAGAGCTCACGGGGTCCACGCC304                            SerGluAspSerLeuAspThrSerLeuArgAlaHisGlyValHisAla                               30-25-20                                                                       ACTAAGCATGTGCCCGAGAAGCGGCCCCTGCCCATTCGGAGGAAGAGA352                            ThrLysHisValProGluLysArgProLeuProIleArgArgLysArg                               15-10-5                                                                        AGCATCGAGGAAGCTGTCCCCGCTGTCTGCAAGACCAGGACGGTCATT400                            SerIleGluGluAlaValProAlaValCysLysThrArgThrValIle                               151015                                                                         TACGAGATTCCTCGGAGTCAGGTCGACCCCACGTCCGCCAACTTCCTG448                            TyrGluIleProArgSerGlnValAspProThrSerAlaAsnPheLeu                               202530                                                                         ATCTGGCCCCCGTGCGTGGAGGTGAAACGCTGCACCGGCTGCTGCAAC496                            IleTrpProProCysValGluValLysArgCysThrGlyCysCysAsn                               354045                                                                         ACGAGCAGTGTCAAGTGCCAGCCCTCCCGCGTCCACCACCGCAGCGTC544                            ThrSerSerValLysCysGlnProSerArgValHisHisArgSerVal                               505560                                                                         AAGGTGGCCAAGGTGGAATACGTCAGGAAGAAGCCAAAATTAAAAGAA592                            LysValAlaLysValGluTyrValArgLysLysProLysLeuLysGlu                               65707580                                                                       GTCCAGGTGAGGTTAGAGGAGCATTTGGAGTGCGCCTGCGCGACCACA640                            ValGlnValArgLeuGluGluHisLeuGluCysAlaCysAlaThrThr                               859095                                                                         AGCCTGAATCCGGATTATCGGGAAGAGGACACGGATGTGAGG682                                  SerLeuAsnProAspTyrArgGluGluAspThrAspValArg                                     100105110                                                                      TGAGGATGAGCCGCAGCCCTTTCCTGGGACATGGATGTGGGGATCCGTCGACCTGCAGCC742                AAGCTT748                                                                      (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 196 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2:                                       MetArgThrLeuAlaCysLeuLeuLeuLeuGlyCysGlyTyrLeuAla                               86-85-80-75                                                                    HisValLeuAlaGluGluAlaGluIleProArgGluValIleGluArg                               70-65-60-55                                                                    LeuAlaArgSerGlnIleHisSerIleArgAspLeuGlnArgLeuLeu                               50-45-40                                                                       GluIleAspSerValGlySerGluAspSerLeuAspThrSerLeuArg                               35-30- 25                                                                      AlaHisGlyValHisAlaThrLysHisValProGluLysArgProLeu                               20-15-10                                                                       ProIleArgArgLysArgSerIleGluGluAlaValProAlaValCys                               51510                                                                          LysThrArgThrValIleTyrGluIleProArgSerGlnValAspPro                               152025                                                                         ThrSerAlaAsnPheLeuIleTrpProProCysValGluValLysArg                               303540                                                                         CysThrGlyCysCysAsnThrSerSerValLysCysGlnProSerArg                               455055                                                                         ValHisHisArgSerValLysValAlaLysValGluTyrValArgLys                               606570                                                                         LysProLysLeuLysGluValGlnValArgLeuGluGluHisLeuGlu                               75808590                                                                       CysAlaCysAlaThrThrSerLeuAsnProAspTyrArgGluGluAsp                               95100105                                                                       ThrAspValArg                                                                   110                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 868 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Homo sapiens                                                     (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                        (B) CLONE: pMVW-2 (Weich et al., 1986)                                         (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 40..762                                                          (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /product="PDGF-B                                        precursor sequence"                                                            /note= "human PDGF-B gene from pGEM2-PDGF-B,                                   flanked by 5'-EcoRI und 3'-HindIII                                             restriction cleavage sites"                                                    (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: mat.sub.-- peptide                                               (B) LOCATION: 283..609                                                         (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /product="mature PDGF-B chain"                          (x) PUBLICATION INFORMATION:                                                   (A) AUTHORS: Weich, H. A.                                                      Sebald, W.                                                                     Schairer, H. U.                                                                Hoppe, U.                                                                      (C) JOURNAL: FEBS Lett.                                                        (D) VOLUME: 198                                                                (F) PAGES: 344-348                                                             (G) DATE: 1986                                                                 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 3:                                       GAATTCGAGCTCGCCCGGGGATCCTCTAGAGTCGACACCATGAATCGCTGCTGG54                       MetAsnArgCysTrp                                                                81-80                                                                          GCGCTCTTCCTGTCTCTCTGCTGCTACCTGCGTCTGGTCAGCGCCGAG102                            AlaLeuPheLeuSerLeuCysCysTyrLeuArgLeuValSerAlaGlu                               75-70-65                                                                       GGGGACCCCATTCCCGAGGAGCTTTATGAGATGCTGAGTGATCACTCG150                            GlyAspProIleProGluGluLeuTyrGluMetLeuSerAspHisSer                               60-55-50-45                                                                    ATCCGCTCCTTTGATGATCTCCAACGCCTGCTGCACGGAGACCCCGGA198                            IleArgSerPheAspAspLeuGlnArgLeuLeuHisGlyAspProGly                               40-35-30                                                                       GAGGAAGATGGGGCCGAGTTGGACCTGAACATGACCCGCTCCCACTCT246                            GluGluAspGlyAlaGluLeuAspLeuAsnMetThrArgSerHisSer                               25-20- 15                                                                      GGAGGCGAGCTGGAGAGCTTGGCTCGTGGAAGAAGGAGCCTGGGTTCC294                            GlyGlyGluLeuGluSerLeuAlaArgGlyArgArgSerLeuGlySer                               10-51                                                                          CTGACCATTGCTGAGCCGGCCATGATCGCCGAGTGCAAGACGCGCACC342                            LeuThrIleAlaGluProAlaMetIleAlaGluCysLysThrArgThr                               5101520                                                                        GAGGTGTTCGAGATCTCCCGGCGCCTCATAGACCGCACCAACGCCAAC390                            GluValPheGluIleSerArgArgLeuIleAspArgThrAsnAlaAsn                               253035                                                                         TTCCTGGTGTGGCCGCCCTGTGTGGAGGTGCAGCGCTGCTCCGGCTGC438                            PheLeuValTrpProProCysValGluValGlnArgCysSerGlyCys                               404550                                                                         TGCAACAACCGCAACGTGCAGTGCCGCCCCACCCAGGTGCAGCTGCGA486                            CysAsnAsnArgAsnValGlnCysArgProThrGlnValGlnLeuArg                               556065                                                                         CCTGTCCAGGTGAGAAAGATCGAGATTGTGCGGAAGAAGCCAATCTTT534                            ProValGlnValArgLysIleGluIleValArgLysLysProIlePhe                               707580                                                                         AAGAAGGCCACGGTGACGCTGGAAGACCACCTGGCATGCAAGTGTGAG582                            LysLysAlaThrValThrLeuGluAspHisLeuAlaCysLysCysGlu                               859095100                                                                      ACAGTGGCAGCTGCACGGCCTGTGACCCGAAGCCCGGGGGGTTCCCAG630                            ThrValAlaAlaAlaArgProValThrArgSerProGlyGlySerGln                               105110115                                                                      GAGCAGCGAGCCAAAACGCCCCAAACTCGGGTGACCATTCGGACGGTG678                            GluGlnArgAlaLysThrProGlnThrArgValThrIleArgThrVal                               120125130                                                                      CGAGTCCGCCGGCCCCCCAAGGGCAAGCACCGGAAATTCAAGCACACG726                            ArgValArgArgProProLysGlyLysHisArgLysPheLysHisThr                               135140145                                                                      CATGACAAGACGGCACTGAAGGAGACCCTTGGAGCCTAGGGGCATC772                              HisAspLysThrAlaLeuLysGluThrLeuGlyAla                                           150155160                                                                      GGCAGGAGAGTGTGTGGGCAGGGTTATTTAATATGGTATTTGCTGTATTGCCCCCATGGC832                CCAATCGATCCCGTCGACCTGCAGGCATGCAAGCTT868                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 241 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 4:                                       MetAsnArgCysTrpAlaLeuPheLeuSerLeuCysCysTyrLeuArg                               81-80-75-70                                                                    LeuValSerAlaGluGlyAspProIleProGluGluLeuTyrGluMet                               65-60-55-50                                                                    LeuSerAspHisSerIleArgSerPheAspAspLeuGlnArgLeuLeu                               45-40-35                                                                       HisGlyAspProGlyGluGluAspGlyAlaGluLeuAspLeuAsnMet                               30-25- 20                                                                      ThrArgSerHisSerGlyGlyGluLeuGluSerLeuAlaArgGlyArg                               15-10-5                                                                        ArgSerLeuGlySerLeuThrIleAlaGluProAlaMetIleAlaGlu                               151015                                                                         CysLysThrArgThrGluValPheGluIleSerArgArgLeuIleAsp                               202530                                                                         ArgThrAsnAlaAsnPheLeuValTrpProProCysValGluValGln                               354045                                                                         ArgCysSerGlyCysCysAsnAsnArgAsnValGlnCysArgProThr                               505560                                                                         GlnValGlnLeuArgProValGlnValArgLysIleGluIleValArg                               657075                                                                         LysLysProIlePheLysLysAlaThrValThrLeuGluAspHisLeu                               80859095                                                                       AlaCysLysCysGluThrValAlaAlaAlaArgProValThrArgSer                               100105110                                                                      ProGlyGlySerGlnGluGlnArgAlaLysThrProGlnThrArgVal                               115120125                                                                      ThrIleArgThrValArgValArgArgProProLysGlyLysHisArg                               130135140                                                                      LysPheLysHisThrHisAspLysThrAlaLeuLysGluThrLeuGly                               145150155                                                                      Ala                                                                            160                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 628 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Poliovirus Typ 1 (Mahoney strain)                                (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                        (B) CLONE: pGEM 3-5'Polio (M) (4708 bp), (Sarnow, 1989)                        (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..628                                                           (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "shown are the first                             628 nt of the 5'non-translated region of                                       poliovirus Typ 1 (Mahoney)"                                                    (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 610                                                              (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "non-authentic sequence                          due to a base pair substitution from C to G                                    at position 610"                                                               (x) PUBLICATION INFORMATION:                                                   (A) AUTHORS: Sarnow, P.                                                        (C) JOURNAL: J. Virol.                                                         (D) VOLUME: 63                                                                 (F) PAGES: 467-470                                                             (G) DATE: 1989                                                                 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 5:                                       TTAAAACAGCTCTGGGGTTGTACCCACCCCAGAGGCCCACGTGGCGGCTAGTACTCCGGT60                 ATTGCGGTACCCTTGTACGCCTGTTTTATACTCCCTTCCCGTAACTTAGACGCACAAAAC120                CAAGTTCAATAGAAGGGGGTACAAACCAGTACCACCACGAACAAGCACTTCTGTTTCCCC180                GGTGATGTCGTATAGACTGCTTGCGTGGTTGAAAGCGACGGATCCGTTATCCGCTTATGT240                ACTTCGAGAAGCCCAGTACCACCTCGGAATCTTCGATGCGTTGCGCTCAGCACTCAACCC300                CAGAGTGTAGCTTAGGCTGATGAGTCTGGACATCCCTCACCGGTGACGGTGGTCCAGGCT360                GCGTTGGCGGCCTACCTATGGCTAACGCCATGGGACGCTAGTTGTGAACAAGGTGTGAAG420                AGCCTATTGAGCTACATAAGAATCCTCCGGCCCCTGAATGCGGCTAATCCCAACCTCGGA480                GCAGGTGGTCACAAACCAGTGATTGGCCTGTCGTAACGCGCAAGTCCGTGGCGGAACCGA540                CTACTTTGGGTGTCCGTGTTTCCTTTTATTTTATTGTGGCTGCTTATGGTGACAATCACA600                GATTGTTATGATAAAGCGAATTGGATTG628                                                (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..17                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=M1317MER                                         /note= "synthetic DNA; M13 sequencing primer                                   (NewEnglandBiolabsGmbH), utilized for PCR"                                     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 6:                                       GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT17                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 24 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..24                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=M1324MER                                         /note= "synthetic DNA; M13 reverse                                             sequencing primer (New England Biolabs GmbH),                                  utilized for PCR"                                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 7:                                       AGCGGATAACAATTTCACACAGGA24                                                     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..19                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=NCCLSA1                                          /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker for                                    recloning of the shortened PDGF-B precursor                                    from pMVW-2 in bacteriophage M13mp19"                                          (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 8:                                       CATGGCCCAATCGATCCCG19                                                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..19                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=NCCLSA2                                          /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker for                                    recloning of the shortened PDGF-B precursor                                    from pMVW-2 in bacteriophage M13mp19"                                          (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 9:                                       TCGACGGGATCGATTGGGC19                                                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..37                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=PDGBBCL                                          /note= "synthetic DNA; mutagenesis primer for                                  the insertion of a BclI-cleavage site into the                                 5'-region of the PDGF-B precursor"                                             (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 10:                                      GCTTTATGAGATGCTGAGTGATCACTCGATCCGCTCC37                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 110 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..110                                                           (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=PPDGFB1                                          /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker for                                    reconstitution of the mature PDGF-B                                            precursor sequence"                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 11:                                      TCGACACCATGAATCGCTGCTGGGCGCTCTTCCTGTCTCTCTGCTGCTACCTGCGTCTGG60                 TCAGCGCCGAGGGGGACCCCATTCCCGAGGAGCTTTATGAGATGCTGAGT110                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 110 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..110                                                           (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=PPDGFB2                                          /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker for                                    reconstitution of the mature PDGF-B                                            precursor sequence"                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 12:                                      GATCACTCAGCATCTCATAAAGCTCCTCGGGAATGGGGTCCCCCTCGGCGCTGACCAGAC60                 GCAGGTAGCAGCAGAGAGACAGGAAGAGCGCCCAGCAGCGATTCATGGTG110                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 30 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..30                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=5'-POLIO1                                        /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic                                               PCR primer"                                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 13:                                      TTTCTGCAGAAGCTTAAAACAGCTCTGGGG30                                               (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 14:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 28 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..28                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label=3'-POLIO2                                        /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic                                               PCR primer"                                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 14:                                      TTGCGGCCGCAATCCAATTCGCTTTATC28                                                 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 15:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 13 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..13                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label= E- N-E1                                         /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker"                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 15:                                      AATTGCGGCCGCG13                                                                (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 16:                                             (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 13 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: -                                                                (B) LOCATION: 1..13                                                            (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /label= E- N-E2                                         /note= "synthetic DNA; synthetic linker"                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 16:                                      AATTCGCGGCCGC13                                                                __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A bicistronic expression unit for the recombinant preparation of heterodimeric PDGF-AB (Platelet Derived Growth Factor AB) in mammalian cells as host cells, characterized by the formula

    p-5'UTR-C.sub.1 -IRES-C.sub.2 -3'UTR-poly A,

in which p is a transcriptional promoter, 5'UTR (5' untranslated region) is an untranslated nucleotide sequence, C₁ is a cistron encoding the B chain of PDGF, a biologically active analog, or a biologically active fragment thereof, IRES (Internal Ribosomal Entry Site) is a nucleotide sequence of viral, cellular or synthetic origin that mediates an internal binding of the ribosomes, C₂ is a cistron encoding the A chain of PDGF or a biologically active analog, or biologically active fragment thereof, 3'UTR (3' untranslated region) is an untranslated nucleotide sequence, and polyA is a polyadenylation signal, where the C₁, IRES and C₂ are connected to each other in an operative manner.
 2. An expression unit according to claim 1, characterized in that C₁ contains the complete PDGF-B precursor sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3), or an allelic variant or fragment thereof, which encodes a biologically active PDGF-B chain.
 3. An expression unit according to claim 2, characterized in that C₁ contains the v-sis gene from simian sarcoma virus or the base pairs 283 to 609 according to SEQ ID NO:
 3. 4. An expression unit according to claim 1, characterized in that C₂ contains the PDGF-A_(K) -(SEQ ID NO: 1) or the PDGF-A_(L) precursor sequence.
 5. An expression unit according to claim 1, characterized in that IRES is the nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:
 5. 6. An expression unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the IRES is the 5'UTR of a member selected from the group consisting of encephalomyocoarditis virus (EMV), "Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus" (TMEV), "foot and mouth disease virus" (FMDV), "bovine enterovirus" (BEV), coxsackie B virus (CBV), "human rhinovirus" (HRV), "human immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein"(BIP), Drosophila antennapediae, and Drosophila ultrabithorax, or a genetic hybrid or fragment thereof, wherein the genetic hybrid or fragments mediates the internal binding of the ribosomes.
 7. A recombinant DNA vector which contains the expression unit according to claim 1 linked to expression-controlling sequences in an operative manner.
 8. A host cell which is a mammalian cell transformed with the vector according to claim
 7. 9. A host cell according to claim 8, characterized in that it is a CHO or BHK cell.
 10. A host cell according to claim 9, characterized in that it is a BHK cell and is derived from the clone 91-21-4D having the deposition number DSM ACC2045.
 11. A process for preparation of heterodimeic rPDGF-AB comprising cultivating mammalian cells, as host cells which harbour an expression unit according to claim 1 inserted in an operative manner, in a suitable medium and separating off the resulting rPDGF-AB from the cells and the medium.
 12. A process according to claim 11, characterized in that the host cell is a CHO or BHK cell. 